Stakeholders have called for sustained policy direction and investment in key sectors to ensure the successful implementation of the Grow Zambia Agenda.

The stakeholders, who spoke to the media today ahead of the ceremonial opening of the First Session of the 14th National Assembly on October 9, 2026, said President Hakainde Hichilema should prioritise policies that promote sustainability in agriculture, education and economic development.

Media Network on Child Rights and Development Executive Director, Henry Kabwe says increased investment is needed in education and child protection to address challenges affecting children and their contribution to national development.

Mr Kabwe said the growing number of children living on the streets, commonly referred to as junkies, requires a comprehensive response that combines protection, rehabilitation and psychosocial support, rather than incarceration alone.

He stated that child marriage, sexual abuse and bullying in schools should also receive greater attention because of their impact on children’s development.

“Increased budgetary allocations towards free education, school feeding programmes, recruitment of more teachers, infrastructure development and provision of learning materials to cope with the country’s growing learner population under free education, currently estimated at about 2.5 million,” he added.

Mr Kabwe implored government to also strengthen measures to protect children from technological abuse while promoting responsible use of technology to enhance learning and empowerment.

He has proposed compulsory education and skills training for children living on the streets to enable them to acquire livelihoods and contribute to national development.

Mr Kabwe has also called for the inclusion of children in Ward Development Committees and other community development structures, arguing that children’s needs are often different from those of adults.

Meanwhile, Agricultural Institute of Zambia Chief Executive Officer, Mathews Ngosa has called for agricultural policies  focused on raising productivity per hectare through improved seed, efficient fertiliser use, soil management, technology transfer and better farm management.

Mr Ngosa pointed out that accelerated irrigation development is also necessary to reduce the sector’s dependence on rainfall and support the Grow Zambia Agenda’s targets of producing 10 million tonnes of maize, three million tonnes of soya, one million tonnes of wheat and one million tonnes of sugar.

He said Zambia should also modernise agriculture through mechanisation and improve access to machinery for small and emerging farmers.

Mr Ngosa further called for deliberate policies to strengthen technical capacity and agricultural financing, as well as reform and expansion of the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) electronic voucher system.

“The transition towards fully electronic transactions in the supply of farming inputs could improve productivity and support crop diversification,” he added.

Mr Ngosa has also called for greater diversification into soya beans, livestock, fisheries, horticulture and other commercially viable value chains.

He also said investment in agricultural value addition, export-oriented production and animal health will be critical to increasing livestock and fisheries production.

Mr Ngosa has further urged increased private-sector participation in the agricultural value chain, adding that the successful implementation of the Grow Zambia Agenda will require experienced personnel in the agriculture sector.

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